Chicken Little, yeah right!

•March 8, 2008 • 3 Comments


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First,I will not go into detail about how we made it to the ranch. You read that already  though it was fun , like I said, you already read it.  We made it to the cabin  and done some shooting to to get ready. As always it was more like shooting and show and tell. There were alot of awesome rigs there. Any lower level you want.

After we got all of the rifle’s  shooting where  we wanted them to shoot, we just kinda sat around talking. You know, as I looked around during this part of the day, you had the ” shooters/ hunters guys” in one group, and the “builder/hunter group.  but unlike in the hallways in high school, it was not like a “click” or anything. you could just kinda walk up and start talking and just join in with out a hitch and the conversation just keep flowing. ( hey, for me mostly, if I happen to be in the  “builder/ hunter group “I would just kinda sit back and listen. You learn alot that way.

The next day, we all got up ( except for Bill , Man, he was not feeling well at all, that’s another story,Bill, I hope you feel better) washed up or shower and headed into town toget a quick bite to eat and then we met up with our guides for the day. I will not go into every one’s hunt (I don’t want to steal there thunder) I’m sure they  will tell you what happen soon enough.

It  was finally my turn  and I remember the last time I was here and saw  this gaint bird and  thought to myself that would be a nice hunt and that the next time I come , I’ll try for one if I could.   I told some of the guys what my plan was and they all started to laugh at me saying ” you want to hunt what!?  that’s like hunting Chicken little, That would not take any real skill ” and they would sit back and  laugh  I said  ” well ok, it’s not a Ram  but it’s a hunt none the less so,I stuck to my guns.  The day before, the Quackenbush 308 LA ( I call it worm eater) was shooting very well, Hitting a 1″ piece of tape at 100 yards with most ofthe shots about 1″ away from that ( I know that the rifle in the right hands can do alot better but this is good enough for me, for now any way)  which gave around a 2″ group which was good enough for  the shot I wanted to take.  

The area I was to hunt in had alot large rocks with grass kinda in between them ( some of the rocks were as large as houses)  as soon as I  we made to the area I saw  one of the giant birds moving his long 3 1/2′ neck up and down, side to side and back and forth.  The guide said  “you’re In luck, there’s one  there”  I took out my range finder and moved to within 100 yards  ( I was using a flat nose 157 grain bullet and I know just what it would do at that range )  I looked around and there was a small tree right at the 100 yard mark ( cool) I laid the rifle on one of the limbs and looked through the cross hairs and for the next five mins I could not keep the cross hairs on the bird’s head! Then, he held his head still for a moment and I pulled the trigger - BOOM! The shot went  above him about 6″ and to the right of him about 4″ . The bird stay in the same spot  but started to move his head around again so, I loaded another one  and cocked the rifle and laid it over the same branch  the bird seem to stop miving almost right on cue I put his head in the cross hairs and pulled the trigger . This time , the bullet hit behind him about 4″ above his head again ( All Man!)  To my mazement, the bird kept moving his head around but stayed in the same area!. I looked back at the guide he just kept looking at the bird ( he was a great guide by the way) I bolted in another bullet and put the bird’s neck in the cross hairs and pulled the trigger. This time, a large puff of feathers came off his neck . The guide said ” you may want toget closer”  so I picked up and got 20 yards closer, I put in another bullet and aimed  ( the same neck area. His head was just moving way to fast for me toget a good shot in ) and shot. this time, the bird took three steps and was out of site. I was a little worried, Being this is a bird that could kill a full grown man with no problem and we did’nt know where this bird was  put me on edge. I put another bullet in the rifle ( on the same charge) and went after the beast.  Later, we found him  he was 50 yards away and I leaned over this rock and took a shot which hit him in the neck and he just walked off. I put another bullet in and pulled the cocking handle back and just one more let’s do this. A few mins later , We saw him he was looking right at me, I put the cross hairs on his neck again and fired. the shot. the bullet hit him in the neck again.  The bird stood up and look me right in the eye ( I’m 6′1″ and he looked right in my eyes level across from where he was and ran off) and took off.  we went after him again and we saw him sitting down behind these large rocks  the guide said ” ok here’s your chance to put and end to this. I slowly walked behind this boulder and could see him at ten yards. Already having a bullet in the chamber, I cocked the rifle very slowly and  put the crosshairs right on the head and pulled the trigger , All I head was PPSSSSTTTT!  I looked back at Jim who just happen to have his awesome Gargoyl with him . He look down at his rifle and then at me ( I guess he saw how pityfull I must have looked at that moment)  He noded his head up and down and said ” here, use the  Gargoyl”  I looked at him and smiled . I cocked the Gargoyl and put the cross hairs right below the bird’s head and pulled the trigger BOOM!

The bird didn’t go without a fight.  Upon the shot, the bird leap about 4 feet in the air ( almost making over the other side of the  this large rock which was over 5 feet tall and stated to hiss and hitting the ground and the boulders around with his feet.   the sound of his feet hitting the ground was like taking a baseball glove and hitting the flat ground with all the power you can muster.  the back of his legs have  about  50 spurs that look like a saw blade. ( and very sharp too.) and they were hitting the rocks and scraping the rocks up . all in all it was a great hunt.

 I’m having the legs made into a lamp stand. The guy that’s drying the legs for me told me his friend and him took two shot guns  and shot one and it took 8 shots to bring one down so, now I don’t feel to bad.  The next time you see Chicken Little, give him some respect, because you don’t want him to go-back and tell his big brother on you.lol     Sniper99

“Keep your tank filled and a pellet loaded”

Posted in Hunting, air rifle, airgun hunting, airguns, blogarithm, sniper99, stephan boles

To do my job… To feed kitty

•August 27, 2007 • 1 Comment

For you to understand. I have to go back to the beginning. About two months ago, I was getting ready to go to work. Had my planner, files, lunch and keys in hand getting ready to open the car door when I look over and see bird droppings all over the car. Now, I know this happens to everyone from time to time but every morning? And it would not be one or two spots. I’m talking like 25% of the windshield and most of the hood. All covered in a purple / white film. I would always look up and say under my breath “ one day you D#$%# birds are gonna pay” and I’d get in the car and clean the stuff off of the wind shield using the windshield wiper.

One morning while shaving, I heard the sound of pigeons out front. That’s when it hit me…This would be perfect for the LD. I went back into the bedroom and loaded up the pistol and took a few more Predator pellets and put them in my pocket. The LD is pushing these pellets along at 560 fps! I think the Predators are 14 grains. If I’m right, then the pellet is also pushing 9.75 FPE!

I went out of the back door and eased up to the side of the house going to the front yard. Looking up, I could see the pigeons in action as I heard a “ plop,” sound hitting my car. Hearing the plop, a shot of anger went through me. Cocking the LD, I showed no mercy. Looking through the scope I saw four birds all sitting next to each other.

The bird farthest away of the four, was the one I saw make the bull’s-eye on my car so, he was first. Knowing that I only had one chance at this and that they would fly away as soon as they heard the shot, I took my time and slowly pulled the trigger. Upon the shot, all you heard was a puff of air and the sound of the Predator hitting home.

The bird didn’t flutter or flop, It just hit the ground hard! stone dead. His boys just looked down at him and kept on doing what they were doing, amazing! I wasted no time; I loaded another pellet and lined up another bird. With the shot, another one went sailing through the air down to the ground Hard! Not a flinch and believe it or not the other two just stared at them and kept on like they were on a mission.

This all happened pretty fast. I put another pellet down the tube and put the cross hairs on the 3rd one. For some reason he looked right at me and seemed like he was getting ready to fly away but it was to little to late, for the Predator was on it’s way. Again, On impact he too hit the canvas hard. Now the last one knew something was up because he flew up and came right back down in the same spot (see, I told you they were on a mission) looking around real fast, mainly down at his boys. I know he was saying to him self “ Dude, what’s up! We can play the dead game later” Loading the last pellet; I quickly put the cross hairs on the last one and pulled the trigger…. The last one to hit the canvas.

With a smile on my face, I went back in finished getting ready for work. I went outside to get in the car and to look at the birds but they were gone, all four. Driving to work I thought to myself “ Did I hit them right? Did they fly away later? “

The next morning the replacements had arrived. This time it was only two but they were on duty carrying out the mission. Using the same pellets I put the squeeze on the first one and he to hit the canvas. But out of the corner of my eye, I saw something bolt towards the downed bird and take off with it. Looking back up again I saw that the bird was looking right at me. Nevertheless, I looked right at him while putting another pellet in the pistol by feel, and cocked it back and slowly brought the pistol up. I put him in the cross hairs and pulled the trigger…. This was the end of the Replacements for the morning but something odd happened. The same “thing” came out and took this bird too and ran back under the car..

I went back inside for a moment, I just had to know what grabbed those downed birds (nosy huh?) I looked under the car and it was a mother cat pulling feathers off and chowing it down. She looked over at me but she was so hungry that she just kept on eating.

The next morning I open the back door and went to my spot and saw the cat on top of my car looking up at the birds. I guess I made a sound because she turned quickly right at me and made a meow sound. I already had a pellet down the tube. I’d just cocked it and aimed at the pigeon closest to her and pulled the trigger. It to fell and the cat jumped in mid air like some kind of lion and grabbed it and went back under the car. I shot at another one and missed (can’t get them all)

The next morning I had to leave early and didn’t have time to do any shooting. The following day, I heard the cat meowing loud at the front door. When I opened the door, the cat ran back to my car and jumped on the hood looking up at the birds. I went and picked up the pistol and blasted two before the other three took off. When I went to get in my car for work the cat had both under the car and you could see feathers being blown down the street.

I did not see any droppings on my car for a few days and I didn’t hear the meowing from the cat. Several days later, I heard the cat again and sure enough; there were birds back on the wire over my car. I opened the door to let kitty know to get ready and like clockwork she did. That day she got two. This went on for a while until I came home one evening and someone had ran over her. I buried her in the back yard and felt real sorry for her and the kittens she had (I’m sure by now they are old enough to take care of them selves.

This past Friday morning I was shaving when the hairs on the back of my neck stood up when I heard

MEOW! I looked in the back yard but the grave was untouched The sound was coming from the front door. A lump came in my throat as I opened the door. It was a small kitten brownish- gray in color (Just like the mother cat) I went back in the house and brought back a bowl of milk and sat it by the door. About five mins later I went to get in my car when I saw cat tracks through the morning dew on my car and the milk was untouched. Hey, who knows, it may take after its mom? We’ll see.

Until then,

Keep your tank filled and a pellet loaded

Posted in airgun hunting, blogarithm

Thanks LD, now I can go back to sleep

•July 24, 2007 • No Comments

The start of this post may sound funny but hopefully, I can explain. I have been back in the CA Bay for about a year now. I’ve had my ups and downs but one thing about where I live that I really look forward to is going to sleep.I don’t know why, after a hard day on the job, going home and dealing with the kids,and the wife down loading her day. I have just about enough energy left to take a shower and crawl into bed.

The past 11 months were cool. Then one morning about 4:00 am I hear this loud sqawking sound. I said to myself what the#$$@^% is that? I tried to get back to sleep but it kept making that sqawking sound til around 8:00 am. At that point it made no sense to of try to go back to sleep. Just get up and go to work thinking this was just a one time deal and that I’ll be ok and that tonight, I’ll crash early and that will be it. But, noooo, the next night,that same bird or whatever it was was back at it again!. The same time and everything! To say that whatever it was ,was getting on my last nerve is an understatement!

The next morning, I went to the neighbor’s home next door and rang the door bell. He open the door real fast and said ” You know, I;ve been meaning to talk to you about your bird! It keeps the Wife and I up all night”. I said  “My bird!, I came over thinking it was your bird keeping me up!”  We both started to laugh and I said ” Have you  ever heard this kind of bird before?” He said .”I have been here 20 years and have never heard anything like it”.  I said my goodbyes and went down a few doors but no one knew anything about it but they all heard it and wanted it gone.

Afew months ago. I went to the AR airgun show and bought a LD pistol. A real nice pistol. I shot it a few times,  . I must say, I really suck shooting with a pistol. The LD is a really cool 22 cal pistol. Lately, I’ve been doing a little shooting with it in the backyard and doing alot better. This morning, like every morning around 4:00 am ( you can set your clock by him) it start making that loud sound. I could’nt take it!, I pulled the covers back, put on my shoes, picked up the LD and a few super dome 14.5 grain pellets and went out side in a tee shirt, boxers shorts and loafers. For the first hour I could only hear him. Outside, the sound was even louder! But I still could’nt see him!. Then, around 5:15 am, ..I saw him!, I could’nt believe it! It was a bird about the size of a sparrow.! He landed in a tree behind my house and started to do his thing.

Putting a pellet in the LD, I cocked the pistol and aimed at the very top of this redwood about 40 feet in the air! I was 30 yards from the tree and put the croshairs on the middle of his body and put pressure on the trigger .Just then, he made that sound again and in mid-song  the pellet was on it’s way!. He did’nt get a chance to finish and to watch him fall the 40 or so feet to the ground was well worth it too.

I went over and picked the bird up, I grabbed the bird with my index finger and thumb and then I heard my neighbor say.”Thank you”.  Well , that’s about it. Tonight should be a very pleasant, QUIET night. 

The bird was a gray and brown color, with a very long tail and blue tips on it’s wings and it had a long beak.

Until then, keep your tank filled, and a pellet loaded

Sniper99

Posted in Hunting, air rifle, sniper99, stephan boles

IN SEARCH OF THE 100 YARDS SHOT PART II.

•June 4, 2007 • 6 Comments

 

Saturday morning, I went to the range to see if I could do a little better with the Quackenbush 308. I must say that today was a good day. No one laughed at me upon setting up at the 100 yard line, the wind was a calm 2-3 mph and I just felt great!. I filled the rifle to 3200 psi and put a 115 grain slug up the tube and settled in for a good shot. Pulling the trigger, I could see the bullet for a split second going towards the target. The bullet hit way high , about 4” above the black circle. I took another shot and the same thing happen but the shots were real close together.

While filling the rifle, I thought to myself why was the bullet hitting so high, then it came to me that maybe I should shoot it as I would in the field with a rest. After the fill. I dug in the bag of 115 grain bullets and took out two perfect bullets and loaded one . I took aim at the black circle and slowly pulled the trigger. I saw the bullet again for a second and then I saw the dust behind the target as the bullet hit the dirt. Looking through the scope , I couldn’t see where the shot went so , I shot again. By that time, the Range Master said 1 minute left. So, I stood up and when it was ok to check and change targets, I went down and saw that both shots were in the black at the 6:00. But close together. Knowing that I only had another 15 mins to shoot I put up another target and said this will be the target I post. I filled the rifle to 3100 psi and just took out two bullets and said here goes. I aimed right on the X and shot both shots. I knew they were on the paper somewhere but didn’t know where .When I went down to check my target. They were in the X. I know, it’s not a group but it felt good to see those two shots. Next weekend I’ll have the balls to shoot a five shot group and let the bullets fall were they may.

Till then, keep your tank filled and a pellet loaded.

Sniper99

Posted in Chronograph results, air rifle, airguns, sniper99, stephan boles

The Quest of the 100 Yard ++ Big Bore Shot

•May 28, 2007 • 3 Comments

DAQ Exile 100yds I remember the first time I saw a Career 707. The dealer told me that “ it’s the most powerful .22 cal air gun in the world, it will take down a crow at 200 yards and that it will go through a 2X4 and keep going.” By the time he made it to the crow, I already had my hand in my pocket trying to see if I had enough money to buy the rifle and still be able to eat till pay day. Hype is something else. I wonder how many rifles have been sold due to hype. The dealer gave a few half truths which I kind of knew going in on the deal but, I just had to have that rifle.After a while, I was able to hit cans at 50 yards and for a while there, I thought I was the man, until one day I was surfing the web and just happened to find Big Bore Air guns. Within less than 10 seconds, I went from the big fish in the pond to a tadpole ( talking about hiding my face in the sand). The next thing I saw, was this large pellet/bullet round. As I looked at the picture of the pellet, I wondered “ How many grains is it? There is no way that……” and by that time , I had read down to where it said that the pellet was 182 grains. I remember having to close my mouth with my hand. I turned the computer off and went back into the bedroom and took out my Career 707. I took a cloth and some oil and started to rub the oil on the tube and barrel and said “ NO! I’m happy with what I have. They just haven’t heard of a Career 707 yet, that’s all.” My career will take big game too and if I had a chance I’ll show them.” Deep down, I knew I was talking just to make me feel a little better, ( hey, it’s hard to go from being the big fish in my mind, down to a tadpole)That night I could not sleep. I just couldn’t believe it. Taking big hogs and deer with an air gun, no way! Pulling the covers back off of me, I said “ I know what I’ll do. I’ll look on the web and find out the truth. Somebody out there knows”. So, after about two hours of searching I found myself getting back in the bed with my head hanging down saying “ I can’t believe it!.”

During the next six months. All I thought about was how could I find a big bore air rifle of my very own. By this time I knew that Quackenbush air rifles were the holy of holies of airguns. And that if you had one, anyone who was into air guns would have to bow down when you pass by ( and to this day, they still do). Seeing that I’d have to wait a while to get a Quackenbush, I researched and bought a Career Fire 201 , an awesome rifle in it’s own right. I could hit jackrabbits at 60 yards and one time a 108 yards. I began to take down different types of game on a regular basis. My mind always went back to that nice, long shot with the Career Fire 201, I’ve always wanted to be able to hunt with a big bore air rifle at 100 plus yards.

A year later, Eric Henderson and I were talking and the subject of long range shooting came up. Now, Eric is a awesome shot, both on the bench and off hand. He mentioned something about getting a hunt together where the minimum distance is 100 yards. He said “ if you can put 5 shots inside of 3” at 100 yards you should be able to go on a hunt like that and score a nice animal”.

That got me thinking, why not put together a hunt like this for sometime this fall or winter? You would have to post pics of the groups and range. I’m still trying to get in to the 100 yard club. I’m close but not quite there yet. Here is a pic of my target. I’m using a Quackenbush Exile in 308 cal. It’s a very accurate rifle. I just need some work. Lol. Thanks for reading.

Keep your tank filled and a pellet loaded

Sniper99

Posted in Chronograph results, air rifle, airguns, sniper99, stephan boles

Great people!Great airgun selection: Little Rock 2007 = Great Fun!

•April 29, 2007 • No Comments

This is the mini slide show….I had plenty of photos (sorry about the quality)

Click here for the complete collection of the show…yep..click this space :) 

Posted in Air Gun Shows, air rifle, airguns, sniper99, stephan boles

Little Rock Airgun was awesome!

•April 28, 2007 • 4 Comments

I have over 100+ pics and will do a full write up when I land in San Francisco and make my way home. Lots tell!

Posted in Air Gun Shows, airguns

The Farco .25 cal Long Tube. A different kind of air rifle.

•April 22, 2007 • 5 Comments

 
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In may of 2005, I went to the Little Rock show and bought a few guns. When I was out of money ( this always happen to me) I saw a gun I have been looking for….. A Farco shot gun!. I went over to look at it and asked if I could pick it up and look at if a little closer. The dealer said yes and for a few moments, I was in heaven . After about 5 mins I put the rifle down ( I didn’t want to wear out my welcome) and saw another Farco on his table. It was a little different than the shot gun. It had the same stock , tube and barrel length but the cal was a lot smaller. I asked the dealer and he said that it was a 25 cal Farco and that it came from the factory this way. I looked at the muzzle and you can see where it started off as a farco shotgun and they put a 25 cal barrel inside. I pulled the bolt handle back and it was set up for a 25 cal. The Dealer said that only a few of them have ever been made. I gave him my card and he gave me his # and that was that.

The rest of the time there, all I thought about was that Farco 25 cal. After getting back home I gave the dealer a call and he told me that he had two of them and that they are both for sale at a good price. We went back and forth for a few mins and then a price was set. ( I only saved $20.00 but to me, that was 4 tins of pellets) I sent the money and the rifles came the next day. ( now that’s called trusting someone) I couldn’t wait to see “ my friend” again . When I open the box and saw both rifles I couldn’t believe it. I went out and filled the 12 oz tank and started to fill the first on up. (Closing my eyes hoping that I don’t hear a leak ) Alright! , no leaks, Then, I filled the other one and it leaked a little. But still very shoot able. I took the first one out side and ran it over the chrony . Shooting the big 34.5 grain pellets, the first 5 shots were 705, 700, 702,697,and 699 fps. That’s around 37 fpe!.

As I was getting ready to test the other one, A pigeon landed on the back wall ( about 30 yards away) I picked up the first one and slowly put it to my shoulder. the pigeon knew something was up but didn’t think fast enough and I put a 25 cal pellet right in it’s chest. It’s chest just caved in and the pigeon didn’t move. He just fell down, right on the wall. When I looked at the bird, the pellet had went all the way through him..

In the near future , I will take this rifle out on a jackrabbit hunt to see what it will do to old jack.

Until then, keep your tank filled and a pellet loaded.

Posted in Air Gun Shows, air rifle, airguns, sniper99

The AR6 pistol: A pistol with the power to take a jack at 100 yards with no problem

•April 15, 2007 • 3 Comments

 
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A few weeks ago, I received a phone call from ARS in New York and as soon as I said hello i heard the person on the other end of the phone become very excited.  He said ” Stephan, you’re not going to believe what I just found. I lend forward in my chair and said  ” What,…….WHAT!. And he said” remember a while ago I told you that I did’nt have anymore AR6 pistols well, I was looking through  some old boxes and found two of them”, I think they are the ones I let someone do an article on and when they came back I never open the box.”  We talked for a few minutes then he told me the price and I made the deal right there.

  Last week, I received the guns. ( they are very well made)  As whenever I get a gun I always take it out and try to put air in it. Both of the guns took air. ( all the way to 3000 psi) I decided to take the pistol’s to the range. I have a shorter one and it was  pushing 44 fpe so I thought that it may do about the same. When I shot the 28.6 grain pellets of the chrony, they were doing 980-972 fps! on the first cylinder full!. The next cylinder was down to 960-942 fps! and after I got it kinda shooting OK ( I have to shoot 2″ to the right to hit the target at 25 yards) you could cover a cylinder full on target with a quarter. After doing the #’s  the first cylinder avg 976 fps and that is; 60.50 fpe! from a pistol! (well, it is a large pistol though) I have’nt shot the other one yet but if it has this kind of power, I don’t know what I will do.  If my career707 can reach out there and hit jacks at over a hundred yards, then I know that this pistol ( in the right hands, may not be mine) should be able to take a jack at the same distance. Will keep you posted. 

Sniper99

Posted in Chronograph results, air rifle, airguns

Coming Soon to a DVD near you! Ram Hunting video

•April 11, 2007 • No Comments


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I am honored to be featured on the cover of Big Bore Airguns’ RAM AIR dvd. This DVD will be available soon at Pyramid Air.

This was a ram hunt I did in 2006 with several other guys. It was awesome. Another one that I wont forget. There are several other hunting videos that will be available later this year (including the buffalo hunt that everyone has been asking me for)

Also, I will be at the Little Rock Airgun Show in late April. I love to meet other airgun enthusiasts like myself. So if you are in the area, stop by and say Hello.

Posted in airgun hunting, sniper99, video

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